Omniboz: Tales from the Land of Oz now Available

Recently published by Stars and Sabers Publishing, Omniboz: Tales from the Land of Oz brings you brand new stories about the fantasy land created by L. Frank Baum. Editors Jendia Gammon and Ernie Chiara have chosen stories varying widely in style and mood, from gently humorous to dark and deadly. This tone variation is reflected in the cover I painted for the book. The friendly denizens of Oz--the Scarecrow, Ozma, the Wizard, the Patchwork Girl and more--smile on the top of the front cover, while the villains of Oz--the Nome King, Mombi, the Wicked Witch of the West, Ugu and more--leer from the bottom of the cover.

The eleven stories to be enjoyed within Omniboz are:

"The Vistors' Return" by Eric Shanower - How did the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, Jack Pumpkinhead, the Sawhorse, the Wogglebug, and the Gump get home to Oz from the USA back in 1905? L. Frank Baum never told us. Here's that story at last.

"Jinjur" by J. R. Dawson - To rescue her enchanted husband, the former General of the Army of Revolt seeks Ozma's help.

"The Field Mouse Queen Takes Flight" by Jendia Gammon - The Queen of the Field Mice interrupts her busy schedule to enjoy tea with Glinda the Good.

"The Emerald Heart" by Helen Glynn Jones - How the Fighting Trees played rock-a-bye baby.

"The Inn at the Edge of Oz" by Ernie Chiara - When the Nome King destroyed Tik-Tok in "Tiktok and the Nome King," how was Kaliko so easily able to restore the clockwork man? Baum never told us. The answer's revealed here, along with other secrets.

"Master Craftsman" by Dennis K. Crosby - What if you lived in the Munchkin Country under the thumb of the Wicked Witch of the East but wanted to wear a color other than blue for a change? 

"Neither Older Nor Larger" by Nicole Field - Another "Ozma-can't-quite-give-up-being-Tip" story. This one presents a new and fascinating variation on the theme.

"The Purple Spider Girl of Gillikin Country" by Jeannie Warner - Reera the Red questions a former Flathead about the experience of carrying brains in one's head rather than in a can.

"The Strange Lodger of Oz" by Patrick Barb - The Wizard of Oz confronts a mystery that might be left over from his time as ruler of Oz.

"Through Emerald-Colored Glasses" by Vincent V. Cava - This story comes with a "mature readers" warning. What if you lived in the Emerald City during the Wizard's reign but didn't want to wear green spectacles?

"Wondoffal" by Adrian Tchaikovsky -  Another "mature readers" story. Why do all those not-quite-humans keep asking the Wizard for new body parts, such as brains and hearts? Despite how widely this story departs from established Oz continuity, it's one of the best stories in the collection. Definitely an alternate facet of the Ozziverse.

I'm delighted to be included in Omniboz and I hope readers enjoy my story "The Visitors' Return" along with all the other stories. Get your copy of Omniboz from one of the purchasing links on the publisher's website here:

https://www.starsandsabers.com/books/omniboz-tales-from-the-land-of-oz/

Copyright © 2026 Eric Shanower. All rights reserved.